DISCLAIMER: I don't own Maximum Ride OR Dr. Horrible. Obviously.

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SUMMARY:

Iggy's (Dr. Horrible) resentment towards Fang (Captain Hammer) when he managed to snatch up Iggy's one true love, Max (Penny). The young scientist had never been more motivated to gain the attention of the Evil League of Evil, slowly hatching his plan against his nemisis, but isn't sure if he can find it in himself to do what needs to be done.

(I'm not really sure how this idea came about, or why I chose these characters to represent who they do, but it did! Now that I think about it, a Dylan/Fang Dr. Horrible might be good. Maybe in the future!

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On the Rise

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"Any dolt with half a brain can see that human kind as gone insane. To the point where I don't know if I'll upset the status quo if I throw poison in the watermaine..."

Iggy adjusted the goggles on his head, traveling a short distance behind his target as they walked through the city streets. The hundreds of cars made the air not only smell, but taste polluted, and the bird kid wished for an instant that he didn't have to breathe so he wouldn't have to take in the foul air. The air around him felt so dirty that he was afraid little black splotches would ruin his perfectly clean and white lab coat. It had just been washed, actually! Iggy tried not to focus on the musty city, but instead keep his mind trained on the horrendous scene that was even more Horrible than himself.

Max and Fang walked a few feet ahead of him with linked arms. They had no eyes but for each other, they even nearly plowed down an elderly woman because they weren't paying attention. This is where human kind had gone insane. The two of them together? Who would have thought? They disgusted him. He was arrogant, self-centered, tall, dark, handsome, and not to mention, Iggy's archnemisis. But she...She was everything he ever wanted. Kind, caring, but still holding a strong side to her that many girls he knew did not posses.

"I cannot believe my eyes. Is the world finally growing wise? 'Cause it seems to me some kind of harmony is on the rise..." Fang only half acknowledged her comment.

It was his fault they were together. If the machine he and his henchman Gassman had been working on didn't malfunctioned he would have knocked out Fang and Max would have flown into his arms. Instead, the truck nearly crashed into Max and Fang was there to save her, because that's what "a man's gotta do". From that point on she had fallen into his trap of false sincerity, but Iggy could see through it as clear as day. Did she even notice that his version of "saving her" was throwing her into the garbage? Whatever.

"Your disguise is slipping...I think you're slipping."

The Gassman scurried up to Iggy's side, pulling on his sleeve with sweaty palms, "So what's your plan of action?" he asked, "You thinking about using the freeze ray on Captain Hammer?"

Iggy glanced down at his side-kick and shook his head, "No, I don't think it's ready yet..." he mumbled, eyes still fixed on the couple as Max chattered on and Fang stared at a red-haired woman in front of him. Iggy scowled, "But I'll think of something, Moist, I'm trained that way. I have a PhD in Horribleness, after all."

The young boy grinned at him, "I know you will, Doctor. You always do!"

It was now more crucial than ever to make his evil statement. If Iggy didn't do something soon, his overseer would have not even consider him for the Evil League of Evil. Therefore, Iggy had to devise a plan rather quickly. He had his death ray, but...

"It would be too risky..." he mumbled to himself, fingering the instrument in his pocket. The death ray was even less complete than the freeze ray, but still more complete than the fire ray or the x-ray ray...But none the less, it wouldn't be safe to use around so many people. But a mass murder would look good, wouldn't it? He might have been able to do it if a certain someone wasn't within his line of fire...

"But it's plain to see evil inside of me is on the rise..."

"...And I believe there's good in everybody's heart..." Max had yet to notice that Fang was in another world, and continued to talk to him as if all eyes were watching her. It was clear that the young blond truly believed everyone had some shred of good in them, especially her man. Iggy didn't see that good. He saw nothing but an ass. You could tell by the way he stared at other women that he was not faithful. Disgusting.

"I cannot believe my eyes, how the world's full of filth and lies..."

"So they say that it's real love, so romantic!" Iggy grimaced, not being able to help but overhearing the mocha-skinned girl slightly in front of and to the left of him. "So they say that he saved her life..." Nudge went on excitedly to the small, blond child that strategically kept her blue eyes trained on Iggy while giving off the impression that she was listening to the tween. She was watching his every move, prepared to jump at his mistakes and praise him for his bad deeds.

Hatred ran through the bird-kid's veins as Fang slipped his arm around Max's small waist, and nearly pulled out his death ray when the young man's hand started to slide down the small of her back. Pig. Iggy swore he heard Fang say "This is so nice, I just might sleep with the same girl twice. They say it's better the second time, they say you get to do the weird stuff..." Max deserved a man who would treat her right, not one who just wanted her for her body. Though her body was a plus. Stop it! You sound like him! He thought of the time when Fang let him know that his fists weren't the hammer that he named himself after, but in fact, it was something a bit lower and felt himself go red with anger.

"Do you want me to moisten them up for you? The most I can do is make them feel like they need to take a shower..." Gazzy offered, but Iggy denied him. His anger fueled him to do something more to Captain Hammer, something that would definitely make Angel and the Evil League of Evil approve...

"It's a brand new day and the sun is high. All the birds are singing that you're gonna die." That statement seemed to right to him now. He felt justified. Max should have been his, but one mishap sent her into the hands of the "Captain". Literally. "How I hesitated, now I wonder why. It's a brand new day..."

No one would see this one coming. His title as the "fail-scientist" would cease and finally become the "mad-scientist", just as he had always wanted. Iggy was ready. "It's a brand new me, I've got no remorse. Now the water's rising, but I know the course. I'm gonna shock the world, gonna show Bad Horse, it's a brand new day..." If Iggy went through with it, he would get Angel's approval. He would become one of the top villains in the world, and get the letter that told him he was accepted. Finally accepted by someone. Just as he had always wanted.

But still, there was a sick feeling in his stomach that told him something would go horribly wrong. He knew he may lose Max because of his evil conquest, but one day she would realize that he had to do this. He had to get rid of Captain Hammer. Of Fang. But she would eventually understand, he was sure of it. "And Max will see the evil me, not a joke, not a dork, not a failure. And she may cry, but her tears will dry when I hand her the keys to a shiny new Australia!"

Iggy watched Fang give his fake "I'm-Not-Really-Listening-But-I-Know-You-Probably-Said-Something-You-Thought-Was-Funny" hahaha. An evil grin spread over Iggy's face and his hand that had been fingering the death ray clutched it firmly. "Go ahead and laugh, yeah, I'm a funny guy! Tell everyone goodbye." He pulled the ray out of his lab coat and shouted to the couple in front of him, "It's a brand new day-!"

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"Yo Ig! Get up already! We gotta get a move on!"

Iggy groaned and rolled over, dirt clinging to his arms. He opened his eyes and sat up, but saw nothing. He couldn't help but feel disappointed and with a sigh, pushed himself up and into a standing position, wiping his no-doubt filthy hands on his jeans. He swore he could hear the filth slide onto his pants.

"Wakey-wakey, sleeping beauty!" Came Max's teasing voice. For some reason, he couldn't help but imagine Fang's arm around her waist, and felt his hands shaking with...With what? Anger? Frustration? He wasn't sure why that image made him so mad, honestly. "Jeez, you were out cold. What were you dreaming about?"

"Probably about some girls or bombs," Fang said next, and Iggy imagined a smirk on his tan face. That didn't make him feel better.

Iggy's head reeled into Fang's direction, giving him a cold look, "I was just dreaming of a brand new day."